Large Intestine

McKenna Johnson

Large Intestine

McKenna Johnson

Main Function of the Large Intestine

The main function of the large intestine is to absorb water from the remaining food matter that is not able to digest and takes the useless waste material from the body.

Diagram

Functions

The large intestine takes leftovers and forms into a brownish mass, ready for disposal. It’s divided into segments. It’s about 5 feet long and 2.5 inches wide. The large intestine is made up of the colon.

Rectum

The rectum acts as a storage for food that passes the stomach and intestines.

Stomach

The stomach is use to break down food.

Small Intestine

The small intestine is used to absord nutrients and material from food.

Diseases

Diseases

Diverticular Disease

Sometimes the colon liner becomes weak and forms a pocket. Bacteria fills the pocket, causing the tissue to become inflamed. This disease can cause lots of pain and might cause a fever. There may be a surgery to remove part of the large intestine. Antibiotics can also help kill the bacteria.

Cancer

Cancer can attack almost every part of the body. Normally cells will grow and split up. Cancer makes the cells divide and they crazily increase. The extra cells will start to form a tumor which can destroy tissue and sometimes organs.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) damages the large intestine, the small intestine, and sometimes both. It slowly damages the stomach lining which causes swelling that will block the passage.

Common Stomach Aches

When you eat something that your body may not be used to, it will irritate the stomach. This will cause the stomach to use its muscles to push the waste out, causing you to throw up.

Can you survive without this organ system?

You cannot live without the digestive system because it helps absorb nutrients and digest food.